The incidence of childhood celiac disease in Sweden.

Within a defined population in southeast Sweden, celiac disease was diagnosed in 167 children born between 1970 and 1982. The diagnosis was based on the criteria of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. Another six children had an initial flat small intestinal mucosa but do not yet fulfill the criteria for the diagnosis of celiac disease. The incidence of celiac disease was 1.27/1,000 live births for the years 1970-1976 and 1.43/1,000 for 1977-1982. In contrast to our findings, a decline in the disorder during the late 1970s was reported from other countries. We discuss the observation that the incidences of celiac disease in children are moving discrepantly in different populations.